How to start a home daycare in Texas.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission oversees home daycares in Texas. These are the kinds it allows and the steps, each with the state's own page.
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.
3,320
Home daycares
38,795 spots
9,600
Licensed center programs
1,130,177 spots
51
Licensed spots per 100 children under 5
Centers and home daycares
1,992,611
Children under 5
The Census Bureau's estimate
The kinds of home daycare Texas allows
Licensed child care home
7 to 12 children, ages 13 or younger
No more than 12 children at any time, counting children related to you.
Source: Become a Child Care Home ProviderRegistered child care home
Up to 6 children, plus 6 more school-age children after school
The extra school-age children may come only after school hours.
Source: Become a Child Care Home ProviderListed family home
Up to 3 unrelated children, and no more than 12 in all
Children related to you count toward the 12.
Source: Child Care Home Provider FAQs
Starting a home daycare in Texas, step by step
Attend a Child Care Home Orientation
Sign up for the orientation class. It explains the application process.
Source: Become a Child Care Home ProviderCheck local rules for your home
Your area may have zoning, building code or homeowner association rules for child care.
Source: Become a Child Care Home ProviderCreate an online account
Create an online Child Care Regulation account. You apply from inside that account.
Source: Become a Child Care Home ProviderApply online
Submit your eApplication online. You get a confirmation number and instructions for paying fees.
Source: Become a Child Care Home ProviderFinish background checks
Certain people at your child care home need background checks. These may include FBI and abuse registry checks.
Source: Become a Child Care Home ProviderGet liability insurance
Show proof of liability insurance. The state needs it before it issues your permit.
Source: Become a Child Care Home ProviderGet your permit
Once your home meets the minimum standards, the state issues you an initial or full permit.
Source: Become a Child Care Home Provider
At a glance
- Who oversees home daycares
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation. Regulates child care offered in centers and in homes.Source: Become a Child Care Home Provider
- Age for a licensed or registered home
- 21 or older, with a high school diploma or equivalentSource: Become a Child Care Home Provider
- Age for a listed family home
- 18 or olderSource: Become a Child Care Home Provider
- Orientation for a listed family home
- Welcome but not requiredSource: 3200, Processing the Application for a License, Certificate, Compliance Certificate, Registration, or Listing Permit (Child Care Regulation Handbook)
- When to pay fees
- After the state sends your operation number and an invoiceSource: Become a Child Care Home Provider
- Yearly training for the main caregiver
- 30 clock hoursSource: Child Care Home Provider FAQs
Good to know
- A listed family home is not inspected unless the state gets a report about it.Source: Become a Child Care Home Provider
- Zoning, building and homeowner association rules are not state child care rules. Local fire and sanitation inspections may depend on them.Source: Become a Child Care Center-Based Provider
Where Texas has the fewest licensed spots per child
Licensed spots per 100 children under 5, lowest first, among counties with 20 or more center programs.
- Wise County 20 licensed center programs 23 spots per 100 children under 5
- Bastrop County 35 licensed center programs 25 spots per 100 children under 5
- San Patricio County 21 licensed center programs 29 spots per 100 children under 5
- Ector County 48 licensed center programs 31 spots per 100 children under 5
- Johnson County 38 licensed center programs 31 spots per 100 children under 5
- Waller County 20 licensed center programs 33 spots per 100 children under 5
Run a program in Texas? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works
Plan your program
- How to start a daycare in Texas
Opening a child care center: the steps and the agency.
- Texas licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
- Childcare in Texas, by the numbers
Programs, spots and new centers in every county.
- Daycare business plan
How to write a plan for funding and licensing.
- Tuition calculator
Typical rates by state and age group.
- Ratio calculator
Staff needed for each age group, by state.
Questions, answered
How do I start a home daycare in Texas?
The first step: Attend a Child Care Home Orientation. All 7 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.
Who oversees home daycares in Texas?
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation. Regulates child care offered in centers and in homes.
How many children can a home daycare in Texas care for?
Licensed child care home: 7 to 12 children, ages 13 or younger. Registered child care home: Up to 6 children, plus 6 more school-age children after school. Listed family home: Up to 3 unrelated children, and no more than 12 in all.
How many licensed daycares are in Texas?
9,600 licensed center programs and 3,320 home daycares, as of November 3, 2026.
About this page
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.
Every license count here comes from the state's license file, read November 3, 2026. Children under 5 are the Census Bureau's estimates.
Home daycares are licensed and registered child care homes. Listed family homes are not counted.
This page is a summary of the state's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.
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